National Guild and MetLife Foundation Announce Support for Arts Education Partnerships

National Guild and MetLife Foundation Announce Support for Arts Education
Partnerships

Partners in Arts Education Program will award grants and provide training to
support partnerships between community arts education providers and public
schools

NEW YORK, March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Guild of Community
Schools of the Arts has received a grant of $275,000 from MetLife Foundation
to continue the MetLife Foundation Partners in Arts Education Program. The
national initiative, now in its fifth year, aims to improve teaching and
learning in the arts by supporting and promoting sustainable partnerships
between community arts education organizations and public schools. Objectives
include the distribution of grants of up to $20,000 to support arts education
partnerships during the 2009-2010 school year and the production of the
Partners in Excellence: Arts Education Partnerships Institute in conjunction
with the Guild's annual Conference for Community Arts Education (Nov. 11-14,
2009, in Minneapolis, MN).

MetLife Foundation Partners in Arts Education Grants are designed to support
exemplary partnerships which
-- demonstrate best practices in creating and sustaining effective
collaborations;
-- serve large numbers of public school students;
-- provide sound arts education experiences;
-- prioritize student learning and achievement; and
-- address national, state, and/or local arts education standards.

During the current school year, more than 12,000 students at 53 public schools
in eight cities are receiving year-long arts instruction thanks to 15
partnerships funded last year by the Partners in Arts Education Program.

National Guild Executive Director Jonathan Herman said: "Over the past two
decades, the National Guild has researched and identified best practices for
high quality arts education partnerships that have powerful long-term effects
on students, faculty, institutions, and communities. The continuance of the
MetLife Foundation Partners in Arts Education Program promotes and supports
these practices, thereby increasing access to quality arts education for
public school children across America."

"MetLife Foundation is proud to renew its partnership with the National Guild
to make quality arts education accessible for children across the country,"
stated Dennis White, president and CEO, MetLife Foundation. "We believe that
the arts play a vital role in promoting learning, understanding of the world
and its diverse cultures and enriching communities. Guild members are doing
outstanding work in arts education and strengthening the entire field."

Application guidelines and program details are available at
www.nationalguild.org/programs/partners.htm. Grants are restricted to the 38
cities listed in the guidelines. The application deadline is May 23, 2009.

The National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts is America's service
association for organizations that provide access to high quality arts
education so that all people may participate in the arts according to their
interests and abilities. The Guild's national network encompasses community
arts schools; arts centers; and education divisions of museums, universities,
local arts agencies and performing arts companies, among others. Collectively,
the Guild's 400+ member institutions provide arts instruction to more than one
million students each year, often in collaboration with public schools,
after-school programs, hospitals, senior centers, and social service agencies
to increase communities' access to arts education. www.nationalguild.org

MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to continue the company's long
tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. The Foundation
supports programs that improve education, promote health, encourage parental
involvement and family engagement, help revitalize neighborhoods and stress
accessibility and inclusion. The Foundation contributes to arts and cultural
organizations across the United States, with an emphasis on increasing
opportunities for young people, reaching broad audiences through inclusive
programming, and making arts more accessible for all people. For more
information about the Foundation, please visit its web site at
www.metlife.org.

Contact: Ms. Jay Samios
(212) 268-3337 ext. 12
jaysamios@nationalguild.org

Ms. Sarah Faria
(401) 827-3906
sfaria@metlife.com

SOURCE MetLife Foundation

Ms. Jay Samios of The National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts,
+1-212-268-3337 ext. 12, jaysamios@nationalguild.org, or Ms. Sarah Faria of
MetLife Foundation, +1-401-827-3906, sfaria@metlife.com